“We need our leader”: Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel will travel to India with Roger Cook and David Templeman

The Mayor of Bunbury is set to fly to India later in July to rub shoulders with several high-profile politicians, despite a number of councillors objecting to the trip. Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel is set to travel to the subcontinent to participate in an Investment and Trade Mission that will focus on several priority sectors including education, mining and tourism, which is headed by the State Government’s trade commissioner to the India-Gulf region, Nashid Chowdhury. The trip, which was approved at a recent council meeting, will run from July 12 to 19 and is estimated to cost ratepayers more than $5000, with the Mayor travelling to Delhi, Mumbai, Vijayawada and Chennai. Alongside Mr Miguel will be several notable figures, including Deputy Premier Roger Cook and Minister for Culture and the Arts David Templeman. Cr Betty McCleary and Cr Karen Steele were the only members to vote against the trip during the meeting on June 28. Cr McCleary said her objection was not about the cost of the mission, but rather the timing — with Mr Miguel’s return due within days of deciding the City’s 2022-23 budget. “We will have our leader not be here when we are doing the budget, he will be back just two days before we have to make that decision,” Cr McCleary said. “I know it is a bit odd for a councillor to object to anyone going anywhere to learn something that might be of benefit to Bunbury, but right now what will benefit Bunbury is a very good budget, and we need our leader here.” In response, Cr Ben Andrew said having the Mayor spend a week with the Deputy Premier and Mr Templeman would create greater opportunities for Bunbury in the future. “To have the Mayor of the City of Bunbury travelling alongside the Deputy Premier, the Minister for Culture and Arts — who we are seeking additional funding from for such investments as the Hands Oval precinct and Hay Park redevelopment — provides us with a fantastic opportunity to promote Bunbury and to build and increase our ability to seek further funding,” Cr Andrew said. But Cr McCleary questioned why those things could not be discussed at a later date and closer to home. “Why wouldn’t it be possible for our Mayor to have a meeting with these local politicians to discuss the items to do locally? Hands Oval for instance, why would he have to go to India to speak about that?” Cr McCleary said. Mr Miguel was on leave during the meeting, but Deputy Mayor Treslyn Smith shared Cr Andrew’s sentiment that the links he could established with ministers would be invaluable. “I think it is a great honour for the Mayor to be invited on this trip, I don’t think any other mayor has been invited, and the links that he is going to develop with the Deputy Premier and other ministers on this trip are going to be invaluable for Bunbury,” she said. Council documents stated that in 2021, India was WA’s seventh biggest trading partner with total trade value of $4.6 billion, accounting for more than 17 per cent of total trade between Australia and India.